Indigo Cancels 77 Flights In Hyd; Airline Crisis Puts Sabarimala Devotees In Dilemma
IndiGo on Wednesday cancelled 77 flights — 40 arrivals and 37 departures — from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, affecting the plans of Ayyappa devotees planning to go to Sabarimala: Reports
HYDERABAD: IndiGo on Wednesday cancelled 77 flights — 40 arrivals and 37 departures — from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, affecting the plans of Ayyappa devotees planning to go to Sabarimala.
Nikhil, a resident of Shah Ali Banda in Old City, booked flight tickets for himself and others to Sabarimala for December 30. “We must visit the Sabarimala temple during this season. As the crisis is still on, we cannot take the risk of relying on this airline. But we are still confused about whether to take the train or a private vehicle,” he said.
A group of Sabarimala devotees, who were spotted at the airport traveling on Air India, thanked civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu’s decision to allow devotees to carry ‘Irrumudi’, a sacred coconut, in the cabin. “This is the second time that the ministry has taken this decision,” said Gorantla Rajashekar, a resident of Vanastalipuram.
Dr H. Balaji, a professor in an engineering college, said, “Irrumudi is sacred for us; we cannot separate it from us till we are in deeksha. This will encourage many devotees to take up air travel to Sabarimala.”